Job Discussion Forums

SuppaTime · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 18

I am currently teaching English at a university in China. In September I will begin teaching at a different university in a different province in China. I will need to take the medical exam for my visa renewal. I recently developed a sort-of phobia about the blood pressure test. Now, when I take the test in a doctor's office, I just get nervous, my pulse rate goes up, and I get higher than normal blood pressure readings. (I know my actual blood pressure because I've tested it at home on two different machines. It's fine, and I'm actually quite fit.)
It occurred to me that if I were to take a xanax before the medical, it would probably keep me from getting so nervous. I remembered, because I took some some years back. A friend of mine has some and offered to give me a few. (Of course, I would test it out first, and I know how to take it properly and not to get hooked on it, etc..) But, here are my questions:
A) If I take a xanax before my medical exam, would it show up in a blood test? Or, would it skew the results in the blood test or the ECG in any way that would "flag" and indicate that I had taken something?
B) If they did know I had taken it (without a prescription), would they care?
C) Can I take it given that I am not supposed to eat before the exam? Does that include not taking any medications?
In sum, in light of the three above concerns, can I get away with taking xanax before my medical exam for my visa renewal? Thanks a lot ..... Suppa

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

I can't answer those questions for you, but I can tell you that I got my new FEC and RPF without having to go through another medical exam and like you, I am at a new school in another province.

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

Like TW I have also just recieved a new FEC and RFP in a new city/province. I did not have to undergo a new medical check either. When I was in Beijing the school I was at hosted a meeting with some of the PSB officials and FTs. This question was raised as a few of us were leaving Beijing and going to different locations. The reply was that you do not need a new medical - just take your old FEC with you and present that to them and they will give you a new one with your new schools name.
Often us FTs are having to undergo these unecessary medical because of the inexperienced FAOs at the new schools. They do not fully comprehend chinese law themselves. Sometimes it will be from the local PSB guys as well. I trust the answer I recieved in beijing as the PSB guys that we met with were quite senior officers from the main headquarters (suprisingly enough both of them spoke excellent english so I doubt there was any miscomunication involved).

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

JIRVIN · Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: USA

If they are not going to do a drug test then you're OK. However xanax will show up on a drug test as benzodiazine positive.

Leon Purvis · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject:

If you become nervous about medical checks, take a beta blocker rather than a benzodiazepide. As noted before, the xanax will show up in a drug test, though i doubt that the medical facility will run a drug test.

Also, a benzodiazepide or any other tranquilizer or anxiolytic will not have any effect upon blood pressure if there's an underlying pathology, and it may not stabilize the heart if your heart races.

A beta blocker, on the other hand, will slow the heart and lower any vascular reactions to your fear. Pro classical musicians have been prescribed beta blockers for performance anxiety for years.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

I wouldn't worry about a thing. The tests have three purposes:

1. To satisfy the law.
2. To rake in some cash.
3. To check for HIV/AIDS

No one takes the things seriously and even if you had a b.p. of 200/120 nothing would come of it. Just don't pass out or have blood emanating from any orifice.

You're probably too young to have seen "The Phil Silvers Show," but in the classic program a chimpanzee passes the US Army's physical entrance exam. Check Google for "Harry Speakup."

andreawanderer28 · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 4

what is this??

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

I can confirm what the others have written.

I came to a very northern Chinese city with a letter of release from my previous school and knowing that the FEC had been duly returned. I did have a medical done in ChangSha because I was contemplating staying in Hunan (the idea passed quickly).

Anyway, when I came to my new job, the FAO told me that the rules had changed (again) and with a letter of release from my previous school and the other relevant papers, I did not have to do the medical test again. And I didn't and the papers came through in about three days.

Next, in terms of high blood pressure, that is a non-worry and a non-starter. I take all kinds of blood pressure pills, a condition that was aggravated by stress on a recent job. When I went for my physical, my blood pressure was quite literally 195/160 -- exceedingly high because I did not take my pills the night. The consulting physician raised the issue, I produced my little bottles of Chinese blood pressure pills and voila I was merrily on my way with a very good medical.

Indeed, stay away from xanax and all of that.

SuppaTime · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 18

Thanks Leon. Yes, I agree that beta blockers would be better. So unlike the xanax, they would not show up on the test?
So then, the question is how I can get some beta blockers? Thanks .... Suppa

SuppaTime · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 18

Thank you adamsmith and TW. That is very good information. I did NOT know that.

--Do any of you know if this rule is new as of this year, or when it went into effect?

--Also, I do not think the school I am going to knows about it, as the FAO said I would need to take the medical. (And it's not a new school, so maybe a lot of places aren't really clear on it yet.) It may be the case that the regional PSB (does PSB mean Public School Board?) doesn't know about it either, which may make it more problematic. So I would probably need some official documentation to produce or refer the school to. I think the Chinese government publishes the rules somewhere pertaining to visas, visa renewals, and the like. I remember once seeing a Chinese government web page that stated the rules for the contracts for foreign teachers. Anyone know where I might get the official written version of the new(?) rule about not having to take the medical to renew the visa, maybe online?

Thanks a Lot .... Suppa

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Hunan,

If you're regularly running a systolic pressure of 165 mm Hg, I'd do what I could to lower it: aerobic exercise, less caffeine and alcohol if you're imbibing a tad too much, NO BIG MACS, but much veggies and fruit. You might even consider a near-vegetarian diet and maybe something like yoga or meditation.

Systolic pressure in your system represents your heart at rest and it must overcome that ambient pressure just to move blood. The difference between diastolic and systolic is your pulse pressure and 35 is fine.